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Hello bike thread, I am currently learning how to ride a friends Aprilia RS125.
When it comes time to get a bike of my own, I've been looking at the Honda VTR250 or Hyosung 250 Comet, due to silly goose laws in Australia the bike needs to be under 250cc until I have had my bike license for a year. I know Honda has an awesome reputation, but what about Hyosung? It's about $2k AUD cheaper than the Honda.
I've seen the RS125... awesome little bike. If they are street-legal there (they aren't here), perhaps you'd consider one? They are 2-stroke bikes so it is closer to 250cc 4-strokes in power. There's just that mixed fuel requirement and the lower logevity of 2-stroke engines to consider.
Question on chain lube: I use chain oil from an aerosol can that was suggested by the guys at my Suzuki dealership. It gets sticky and not-oil-like really fast, after just a few rides. I'm sick of cleaning my chain all the time, and I'm thinking about going back to teflon-based lube. Any other suggestions?
From what I've read on the in-depth WebBikeWorld info, sticky is better, even if it seems to be high-friction. Basically, it's more about keeping particles away from the rings inside the chain links while not flying off an leaving it unprotected than it is about making things nice a slippery.
Hey, a motorcycle thread. I've recently been thinking about getting a small starter bike; maybe you kind gentlemen could pass along some advice?
The biggest reason I want to ride is to commute. I am so fucking sick of riding the bus; loud, smelly, uncomfortable, and it takes me an hour and a half to get to or from work. When I drive in, I can do the same in thirty minutes. That's a huge difference, but I generally don't like taking the car because the wife might need it to shuttle a kid somewhere or run errands and whatnot. Not to mention the fuel costs, and how much I HATE trying to find parking in Seattle.
A bike seems, on the surface, to be the solution to all these problems. Personal transport with better fuel economy and easier to park. Also, hella fun, I'm sure.
However, I'm a cautious man by nature (ok, I'm a largely a chickenshit, we'll just be honest here in the paranthesis.) Naturally I'd take any classes available and get properly licensed, and would likely be road safe to the point of pulic nuisence for a year or so. To be fair, though, other drivers scare the shit out of me in my car regularly, and I consider myself a damn good driver: I have managed to avoid quite a few accidents with some quick reaction and situational awareness.
So, I guess I need someone to talk me into or out of this idea. I'm on the fence. It seems like a good idea, though, providing both something useful and fun. Are my reasons sound? Any reasons I should or shouldn't that I haven't considered?
I note some of you are fellow Seattle / Pacific Northwesterners. How does the weather factor in around here? I note it's been a mild, if cold, winter.
Question on chain lube: I use chain oil from an aerosol can that was suggested by the guys at my Suzuki dealership. It gets sticky and not-oil-like really fast, after just a few rides. I'm sick of cleaning my chain all the time, and I'm thinking about going back to teflon-based lube. Any other suggestions?
From what I've read on the in-depth WebBikeWorld info, sticky is better, even if it seems to be high-friction. Basically, it's more about keeping particles away from the rings inside the chain links while not flying off an leaving it unprotected than it is about making things nice a slippery.
Yeah-- it seems counterintuitive, but a lubricated bearing is actually higher friction than a clean, dry bearing. The lubrication is there to reduce wear. A nice slippery lubricant that flies off the chain within miles is useless.
Hey, a motorcycle thread. I've recently been thinking about getting a small starter bike; maybe you kind gentlemen could pass along some advice?
The biggest reason I want to ride is to commute. I am so fucking sick of riding the bus; loud, smelly, uncomfortable, and it takes me an hour and a half to get to or from work. When I drive in, I can do the same in thirty minutes. That's a huge difference, but I generally don't like taking the car because the wife might need it to shuttle a kid somewhere or run errands and whatnot. Not to mention the fuel costs, and how much I HATE trying to find parking in Seattle.
A bike seems, on the surface, to be the solution to all these problems. Personal transport with better fuel economy and easier to park. Also, hella fun, I'm sure.
However, I'm a cautious man by nature (ok, I'm a largely a chickenshit, we'll just be honest here in the paranthesis.) Naturally I'd take any classes available and get properly licensed, and would likely be road safe to the point of pulic nuisence for a year or so. To be fair, though, other drivers scare the shit out of me in my car regularly, and I consider myself a damn good driver: I have managed to avoid quite a few accidents with some quick reaction and situational awareness.
So, I guess I need someone to talk me into or out of this idea. I'm on the fence. It seems like a good idea, though, providing both something useful and fun. Are my reasons sound? Any reasons I should or shouldn't that I haven't considered?
I note some of you are fellow Seattle / Pacific Northwesterners. How does the weather factor in around here? I note it's been a mild, if cold, winter.
I just moved from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.
These guys, despite the Comic Sans on their site, are great instructors: http://www.pnwmotorcyclesafety.com/
The only issue is that they closed their school at Sand Point and now only offer classes in Auburn.
Good riding is about risk recognition and mitigation, and you'll learn a lot of it in any MSF class. I encourage everyone to take the class, even if they don't really want to buy a bike, because it's basically 16 hours of motorcycle camp for $125. You'll be hooked.
As for weather, riding in the rain sucks. I rode my motorcycle just about daily from April when I got it through mid-October when I moved, though. Cold isn't actually as bad as rain. With the gear I have in the OP and some better insulated gloves, I'm pretty comfy even if it's near freezing.
The biggest reason riding in the rain sucks is other drivers. Some people slow to 30 and others want to keep going 70-80, so there's almost no safe speed to ride.
Question on chain lube: I use chain oil from an aerosol can that was suggested by the guys at my Suzuki dealership. It gets sticky and not-oil-like really fast, after just a few rides. I'm sick of cleaning my chain all the time, and I'm thinking about going back to teflon-based lube. Any other suggestions?
From what I've read on the in-depth WebBikeWorld info, sticky is better, even if it seems to be high-friction. Basically, it's more about keeping particles away from the rings inside the chain links while not flying off an leaving it unprotected than it is about making things nice a slippery.
Yeah-- it seems counterintuitive, but a lubricated bearing is actually higher friction than a clean, dry bearing. The lubrication is there to reduce wear. A nice slippery lubricant that flies off the chain within miles is useless.
That's the reason I like the lube I'm using right now (PJ1 Blue Label). It turns into almost a wax-like consistency which sticks to the chain a lot better, and leaves a LOT less mess. WebBikeWorld doesn't like it purely because the can is "too wasteful" apparently, but I think it's a great lube. I've discovered the trick is to use it frequently but very lightly - it's quite easy to over-apply, and then your chain gets super sticky and attracts dirt.
I've seen lotsa people suggest those generic teflon or silicone lube sprays, but the reason I haven't tried using them is I worry how well they'll work on the o-rings inside the chain. Besides, the biggest reason I see lots of folks using it is because it's cheap, but I figure if I'm paying $75+ for a chain, I can afford the extra few bucks here and there on a better lube. Maybe it's purely a placebo to pay the extra, but I'm happy, and my chain seems happy, so what do I care.
Hey, a motorcycle thread. I've recently been thinking about getting a small starter bike; maybe you kind gentlemen could pass along some advice?
The biggest reason I want to ride is to commute. I am so fucking sick of riding the bus; loud, smelly, uncomfortable, and it takes me an hour and a half to get to or from work. When I drive in, I can do the same in thirty minutes. That's a huge difference, but I generally don't like taking the car because the wife might need it to shuttle a kid somewhere or run errands and whatnot. Not to mention the fuel costs, and how much I HATE trying to find parking in Seattle.
A bike seems, on the surface, to be the solution to all these problems. Personal transport with better fuel economy and easier to park. Also, hella fun, I'm sure.
However, I'm a cautious man by nature (ok, I'm a largely a chickenshit, we'll just be honest here in the paranthesis.) Naturally I'd take any classes available and get properly licensed, and would likely be road safe to the point of pulic nuisence for a year or so. To be fair, though, other drivers scare the shit out of me in my car regularly, and I consider myself a damn good driver: I have managed to avoid quite a few accidents with some quick reaction and situational awareness.
So, I guess I need someone to talk me into or out of this idea. I'm on the fence. It seems like a good idea, though, providing both something useful and fun. Are my reasons sound? Any reasons I should or shouldn't that I haven't considered?
I note some of you are fellow Seattle / Pacific Northwesterners. How does the weather factor in around here? I note it's been a mild, if cold, winter.
I just moved from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.
These guys, despite the Comic Sans on their site, are great instructors: http://www.pnwmotorcyclesafety.com/
The only issue is that they closed their school at Sand Point and now only offer classes in Auburn.
Good riding is about risk recognition and mitigation, and you'll learn a lot of it in any MSF class. I encourage everyone to take the class, even if they don't really want to buy a bike, because it's basically 16 hours of motorcycle camp for $125. You'll be hooked.
As for weather, riding in the rain sucks. I rode my motorcycle just about daily from April when I got it through mid-October when I moved, though. Cold isn't actually as bad as rain. With the gear I have in the OP and some better insulated gloves, I'm pretty comfy even if it's near freezing.
The biggest reason riding in the rain sucks is other drivers. Some people slow to 30 and others want to keep going 70-80, so there's almost no safe speed to ride.
Auburn isn't an issue, however, some of their classes use a classroom in North Seattle, which is a pain (I'm in Renton). Also, all of the Sat/Sun classes in Auburn alone are $250. Ouch.
That's the reason I like the lube I'm using right now (PJ1 Blue Label). It turns into almost a wax-like consistency which sticks to the chain a lot better, and leaves a LOT less mess. WebBikeWorld doesn't like it purely because the can is "too wasteful" apparently, but I think it's a great lube. I've discovered the trick is to use it frequently but very lightly - it's quite easy to over-apply, and then your chain gets super sticky and attracts dirt.
Wow... that's a horrible review. "Testing chain lube is hard, so we didn't. But I don't like the look of this one... 2/5"
Edit: I mean, overspray is a valid complaint. But... seriously?
Hey, a motorcycle thread. I've recently been thinking about getting a small starter bike; maybe you kind gentlemen could pass along some advice?
The biggest reason I want to ride is to commute. I am so fucking sick of riding the bus; loud, smelly, uncomfortable, and it takes me an hour and a half to get to or from work. When I drive in, I can do the same in thirty minutes. That's a huge difference, but I generally don't like taking the car because the wife might need it to shuttle a kid somewhere or run errands and whatnot. Not to mention the fuel costs, and how much I HATE trying to find parking in Seattle.
A bike seems, on the surface, to be the solution to all these problems. Personal transport with better fuel economy and easier to park. Also, hella fun, I'm sure.
However, I'm a cautious man by nature (ok, I'm a largely a chickenshit, we'll just be honest here in the paranthesis.) Naturally I'd take any classes available and get properly licensed, and would likely be road safe to the point of pulic nuisence for a year or so. To be fair, though, other drivers scare the shit out of me in my car regularly, and I consider myself a damn good driver: I have managed to avoid quite a few accidents with some quick reaction and situational awareness.
So, I guess I need someone to talk me into or out of this idea. I'm on the fence. It seems like a good idea, though, providing both something useful and fun. Are my reasons sound? Any reasons I should or shouldn't that I haven't considered?
I note some of you are fellow Seattle / Pacific Northwesterners. How does the weather factor in around here? I note it's been a mild, if cold, winter.
I just moved from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.
These guys, despite the Comic Sans on their site, are great instructors: http://www.pnwmotorcyclesafety.com/
The only issue is that they closed their school at Sand Point and now only offer classes in Auburn.
Good riding is about risk recognition and mitigation, and you'll learn a lot of it in any MSF class. I encourage everyone to take the class, even if they don't really want to buy a bike, because it's basically 16 hours of motorcycle camp for $125. You'll be hooked.
As for weather, riding in the rain sucks. I rode my motorcycle just about daily from April when I got it through mid-October when I moved, though. Cold isn't actually as bad as rain. With the gear I have in the OP and some better insulated gloves, I'm pretty comfy even if it's near freezing.
The biggest reason riding in the rain sucks is other drivers. Some people slow to 30 and others want to keep going 70-80, so there's almost no safe speed to ride.
Auburn isn't an issue, however, some of their classes use a classroom in North Seattle, which is a pain (I'm in Renton). Also, all of the Sat/Sun classes in Auburn alone are $250. Ouch.
We'll see. I was hoping on having more cash on hand this summer, as I'd planned on applying for a new position internally, but it's no longer available.
Holy shit thats a nice bike. How much did it cost? I would think about getting it if its not too expensive.
She ended up costing me around 10k total.
ah... probably too much from me but I really like the look of it. Pretty much exactly what I was looking for.
MSRP for the special edition (looking at Suzuki's site it appears to be the same bike) is $7,999. Standard M50 is $7,799. Those are for the 2009 models, but there really isn't much in there that would jack up the price that much, but don't forget tax, tag, and title.
BioHaz, is yours a 2009, and if so does it have this instrument panel? The older M50's I've seen in person had the instruments on the gas tank.
Barrakketh on
Rollers are red, chargers are blue....omae wa mou shindeiru
Holy shit thats a nice bike. How much did it cost? I would think about getting it if its not too expensive.
She ended up costing me around 10k total.
ah... probably too much from me but I really like the look of it. Pretty much exactly what I was looking for.
MSRP for the special edition (looking at Suzuki's site it appears to be the same bike) is $7,999. Standard M50 is $7,799. Those are for the 2009 models, but there really isn't much in there that would jack up the price that much, but don't forget tax, tag, and title.
BioHaz, is yours a 2009, and if so does it have this instrument panel? The older M50's I've seen in person had the instruments on the gas tank.
Mine is a 2009 and it's instrument panel doesn't match that pic. The only indicators/warning lights on the gastank are Neutral, Fuel Injector, High Beam, and Left & Right Turn Signals. The Speedometer, Odometer, Fuel Gauge, and Oil/Temp lights are on the handlebars in a circular display. I can snap a clearer image of it if you like.
A fair amount of the final price for me was I opted for a few years worth of extended warranty/service/maintenance packages. I was able to get the base price of the bike down a good deal but they more than made up for it in my addons cause I am a [strike]sucker[/strike] person who likes to take precautions with their motor vehicles.
Personally, I am not too upset with the end price as it was very possible to end up with a final cost significantly higher than what I did end up with.
Holy shit thats a nice bike. How much did it cost? I would think about getting it if its not too expensive.
She ended up costing me around 10k total.
ah... probably too much from me but I really like the look of it. Pretty much exactly what I was looking for.
MSRP for the special edition (looking at Suzuki's site it appears to be the same bike) is $7,999. Standard M50 is $7,799. Those are for the 2009 models, but there really isn't much in there that would jack up the price that much, but don't forget tax, tag, and title.
BioHaz, is yours a 2009, and if so does it have this instrument panel? The older M50's I've seen in person had the instruments on the gas tank.
Mine is a 2009 and it's instrument panel doesn't match that pic. The only indicators/warning lights on the gastank are Neutral, Fuel Injector, High Beam, and Left & Right Turn Signals. The Speedometer, Odometer, Fuel Gauge, and Oil/Temp lights are on the handlebars in a circular display. I can snap a clearer image of it if you like.
Not needed. The C50 series still uses a tank-mounted speedometer, so either it was an old M50 that might have used that style or a C50 and the owner was wrong about the model :P From your description I imagine what you have looks like this (also from the 2010 M50) on the tank:
Barrakketh on
Rollers are red, chargers are blue....omae wa mou shindeiru
More to the point of my post: The S40 Suzuki is a single cylinder 652 CC basic bike, while not super fast, its great for crusing around town and has been absolutely maintence free since I bought it two and a half years ago. This thing has about the least amount of moving parts you can have on a vehicle of about any kind that isn't electric. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a reasonable cost bike.
2004 Yamaha V-star Silverado. It's only a 650, but you'd never know if you didn't hear it running. Probably not the best idea as a first road bike (I'd be very sad if I dented it), but it was a smokin' good deal and a lot of fun to ride. Waiting for the snow to clear so that I can run it somewhere other than in the garage.
I do all of the work on it myself, cursing Yamaha's engineers the whole time (who thought it was a good idea to bury the oil filter behind the pipes?). I've only had to replace one part so far, which was a $40 plastic cap that fell off the end of the throttle grip on the highway. I'd hate to see what they charge for complicated parts. The shop service manual is incredibly detailed; it's like an Ikea instruction booklet for your bike.
That bike is a solid performer. You honestly can not go wrong with that bike. The only competition for it I can think of would be the Honda VFR (Interceptor) non V-Tec version though because the V-Tec engines are terrible.
Today was a warm day. The snow is melting and there are puddles everywhere. I hope to be able to ride in a week or two. I just finished replacing the sprockets and chain on the bike and am now waiting for some exhaust gaskets so I can put the pipes back on it. I am very excited to ride this bike with a good chain. The old one was stretched to the point of slapping the swing arm and the chain guard. This will be a totally new experience. I hope I put the rivet link on properly.
Very excited for a new riding season.
Oh, a question for you all about cruise control for bikes. Does anyone have experience with getting an after market cruise control? I am looking at starting some distance rides (1000km) and it has come up.
Hello bike thread, I am currently learning how to ride a friends Aprilia RS125.
When it comes time to get a bike of my own, I've been looking at the Honda VTR250 or Hyosung 250 Comet, due to silly goose laws in Australia the bike needs to be under 250cc until I have had my bike license for a year. I know Honda has an awesome reputation, but what about Hyosung? It's about $2k AUD cheaper than the Honda.
I've seen the RS125... awesome little bike. If they are street-legal there (they aren't here), perhaps you'd consider one? They are 2-stroke bikes so it is closer to 250cc 4-strokes in power. There's just that mixed fuel requirement and the lower logevity of 2-stroke engines to consider.
They are street legal, but they are a good 50% more to buy than the Honda. I'd pick one up if I had the cash, but... I don't.
Guys I can't stop thinking about that bike (a few posts up). I'm buying it this saturday, and I'm just too excited. It was 70 degrees here, the warmest it's been since November and I own no motorcycle right now because I sold mine to pay for the Triumph.
I love my Triumph, it is great fun and comfortable to boot. Plus it sounds like a fuckawesome heavy metal symphony riding the razor edge of ruin to a glorious crescendo of sex and violence.
Spring is finally HERE and my Ninja fired up with no problem. Only been sitting for two months but it felt like forever.
I think I need to replace to spark plugs though. Soon after I take off, my engine will die when I come to stop even with the choke open completely. It goes away after a few minutes of riding, but it's really annoying (and potentially dangerous) to stall at a traffic light next to my garage.
Spring is finally HERE and my Ninja fired up with no problem. Only been sitting for two months but it felt like forever.
I think I need to replace to spark plugs though. Soon after I take off, my engine will die when I come to stop even with the choke open completely. It goes away after a few minutes of riding, but it's really annoying (and potentially dangerous) to stall at a traffic light next to my garage.
Are you letting it warm up for a bit? Do you have fuel stabilizer in there? If it goes away after a minutes it doesn't sound like it would be spark plugs...right?
Yeah, definitely try letting it warm up a bit longer (especially if its carbed - can't remember what kind of bike you have). And wait and see if the problem goes away after you've gone through a full tank of gas.
Oh, and I hate all you who are riding already (or indeed, -still- riding). While it's been unseasonably warm up here so far, I still imagine it'll probably be another solid month before riding is possible. Last year my first ride of the season was early May. But it's probably for the best, my bike is still sitting in pieces in storage and I just got around to ordering a bunch of parts for it.
Yeah, definitely try letting it warm up a bit longer (especially if its carbed - can't remember what kind of bike you have). And wait and see if the problem goes away after you've gone through a full tank of gas.
Oh, and I hate all you who are riding already (or indeed, -still- riding). While it's been unseasonably warm up here so far, I still imagine it'll probably be another solid month before riding is possible. Last year my first ride of the season was early May. But it's probably for the best, my bike is still sitting in pieces in storage and I just got around to ordering a bunch of parts for it.
I've been riding on and off all winter in Vancouver. :P
Last Saturday I went up to the top of Mt Seymour and laughed at the people snowboarding in the 10c temperatures.
Don't laugh.... you could have had an epic story (and ride) strapping your board to your back and riding up to go snowboarding for a day! I miss Van.
I'm living in Uganda right now and planning a big trip. We're goin to fly to Egypt, do all the touristy stuff, see the pyramids, cruise the Nile, cross over into Jordan and check out Petra, hike Mount Sinai, then get on a plane and fly into Morocco, rent a big R1100 and bomb around Morocco two up through the Atlas mountains. I'm just pumped, can't wait. 5 months!
Spring is finally HERE and my Ninja fired up with no problem. Only been sitting for two months but it felt like forever.
I think I need to replace to spark plugs though. Soon after I take off, my engine will die when I come to stop even with the choke open completely. It goes away after a few minutes of riding, but it's really annoying (and potentially dangerous) to stall at a traffic light next to my garage.
The ninja 250 runs notoriously lean, which makes for lousy idle when its cold out. Theres guides out there that show you how to shim the needles to make it run better all around. If you dont want to do that, just let it warm up for like 5 or 10 minutes before you start riding, or hold the throttle open to keep the revs up at a light if youre in a hurry and cant wait.
Spring is finally HERE and my Ninja fired up with no problem. Only been sitting for two months but it felt like forever.
I think I need to replace to spark plugs though. Soon after I take off, my engine will die when I come to stop even with the choke open completely. It goes away after a few minutes of riding, but it's really annoying (and potentially dangerous) to stall at a traffic light next to my garage.
The ninja 250 runs notoriously lean, which makes for lousy idle when its cold out. Theres guides out there that show you how to shim the needles to make it run better all around. If you dont want to do that, just let it warm up for like 5 or 10 minutes before you start riding, or hold the throttle open to keep the revs up at a light if youre in a hurry and cant wait.
Just don't gun it when it's REALLY cold. The oil needs to warm up a bit before it's fully effective.
Anyone have opinions on the Gladius / Versys / ER-6n?
If I remember correctly the Versys is a pretty solid all around bike, but the other two don't have windshields and don't perform quite as well. I think they're "commuter" bikes and are pretty beginner friendly, but fall into a price range where you could get more bike for the same or less if you buy used.
I'll see if I can find my motorcyclist edition that has a comparison of those, I'm pretty sure it has all 3 and maybe one more bikes compared.
Anyone have opinions on the Gladius / Versys / ER-6n?
If I remember correctly the Versys is a pretty solid all around bike, but the other two don't have windshields and don't perform quite as well. I think they're "commuter" bikes and are pretty beginner friendly, but fall into a price range where you could get more bike for the same or less if you buy used.
I'll see if I can find my motorcyclist edition that has a comparison of those, I'm pretty sure it has all 3 and maybe one more bikes compared.
I'm looking for a standard naked sporty commuter bike to replace my 'starter' Yamaha Radian. SV650N is on the list, along with the Street Triple and Monster 696.
I was looking at the Monster too, but after riding them, the Street Triple was the decision. The design of the Monster's seat and tank makes for a ball-crushing ride. Plus, a thousand bucks higher price swayed my decision.
I have a SV650s. I love her for being a awesome all around street bike. Today was odd I have a lady yell at me to pull over. Assuming I forgot to make sure I had everything stowed away I pull over and start checking out my backpack. She pull over and ask for my number. She has a thing for riders.:winky: We agree to meet up this Friday. I am still grinning like a fool from this morning. Also a awesome video about a guy riding a R1 cross country. I would love to try something like this.
We should set up a PA biker meetup this summer. I drove through the mountains in tennessee last summer and would love to go through those on my bike, anybody else?
Ive been riding whenever I get home from work, few laps around the neighborhood at most so far. Learning how to change gears rolling up and down hills, and taking off uphill from a stop (this one is giving me a bit of trouble.)
I plan to start using for the commute to work in April.
I'd be riding right now, but its time for the consumption of beer!
Posts
I've seen the RS125... awesome little bike. If they are street-legal there (they aren't here), perhaps you'd consider one? They are 2-stroke bikes so it is closer to 250cc 4-strokes in power. There's just that mixed fuel requirement and the lower logevity of 2-stroke engines to consider.
From what I've read on the in-depth WebBikeWorld info, sticky is better, even if it seems to be high-friction. Basically, it's more about keeping particles away from the rings inside the chain links while not flying off an leaving it unprotected than it is about making things nice a slippery.
The biggest reason I want to ride is to commute. I am so fucking sick of riding the bus; loud, smelly, uncomfortable, and it takes me an hour and a half to get to or from work. When I drive in, I can do the same in thirty minutes. That's a huge difference, but I generally don't like taking the car because the wife might need it to shuttle a kid somewhere or run errands and whatnot. Not to mention the fuel costs, and how much I HATE trying to find parking in Seattle.
A bike seems, on the surface, to be the solution to all these problems. Personal transport with better fuel economy and easier to park. Also, hella fun, I'm sure.
However, I'm a cautious man by nature (ok, I'm a largely a chickenshit, we'll just be honest here in the paranthesis.) Naturally I'd take any classes available and get properly licensed, and would likely be road safe to the point of pulic nuisence for a year or so. To be fair, though, other drivers scare the shit out of me in my car regularly, and I consider myself a damn good driver: I have managed to avoid quite a few accidents with some quick reaction and situational awareness.
So, I guess I need someone to talk me into or out of this idea. I'm on the fence. It seems like a good idea, though, providing both something useful and fun. Are my reasons sound? Any reasons I should or shouldn't that I haven't considered?
I note some of you are fellow Seattle / Pacific Northwesterners. How does the weather factor in around here? I note it's been a mild, if cold, winter.
Yeah-- it seems counterintuitive, but a lubricated bearing is actually higher friction than a clean, dry bearing. The lubrication is there to reduce wear. A nice slippery lubricant that flies off the chain within miles is useless.
I just moved from Seattle to Vancouver, BC.
These guys, despite the Comic Sans on their site, are great instructors:
http://www.pnwmotorcyclesafety.com/
The only issue is that they closed their school at Sand Point and now only offer classes in Auburn.
Take a class from this list if that is too far:
http://nm.msf-usa.org/msf/ridercourses.aspx?state=WA
Good riding is about risk recognition and mitigation, and you'll learn a lot of it in any MSF class. I encourage everyone to take the class, even if they don't really want to buy a bike, because it's basically 16 hours of motorcycle camp for $125. You'll be hooked.
As for weather, riding in the rain sucks. I rode my motorcycle just about daily from April when I got it through mid-October when I moved, though. Cold isn't actually as bad as rain. With the gear I have in the OP and some better insulated gloves, I'm pretty comfy even if it's near freezing.
The biggest reason riding in the rain sucks is other drivers. Some people slow to 30 and others want to keep going 70-80, so there's almost no safe speed to ride.
That's the reason I like the lube I'm using right now (PJ1 Blue Label). It turns into almost a wax-like consistency which sticks to the chain a lot better, and leaves a LOT less mess. WebBikeWorld doesn't like it purely because the can is "too wasteful" apparently, but I think it's a great lube. I've discovered the trick is to use it frequently but very lightly - it's quite easy to over-apply, and then your chain gets super sticky and attracts dirt.
I've seen lotsa people suggest those generic teflon or silicone lube sprays, but the reason I haven't tried using them is I worry how well they'll work on the o-rings inside the chain. Besides, the biggest reason I see lots of folks using it is because it's cheap, but I figure if I'm paying $75+ for a chain, I can afford the extra few bucks here and there on a better lube. Maybe it's purely a placebo to pay the extra, but I'm happy, and my chain seems happy, so what do I care.
Auburn isn't an issue, however, some of their classes use a classroom in North Seattle, which is a pain (I'm in Renton). Also, all of the Sat/Sun classes in Auburn alone are $250. Ouch.
Wow... that's a horrible review. "Testing chain lube is hard, so we didn't. But I don't like the look of this one... 2/5"
Edit: I mean, overspray is a valid complaint. But... seriously?
http://esc.org/motorcycle.php
They are booked at the Renton site until March 25th.
The ones at South Seattle Community College are available a bit earlier. Be aware that you're getting into the busy season for them.
BioHaz, is yours a 2009, and if so does it have this instrument panel? The older M50's I've seen in person had the instruments on the gas tank.
Mine is a 2009 and it's instrument panel doesn't match that pic. The only indicators/warning lights on the gastank are Neutral, Fuel Injector, High Beam, and Left & Right Turn Signals. The Speedometer, Odometer, Fuel Gauge, and Oil/Temp lights are on the handlebars in a circular display. I can snap a clearer image of it if you like.
A fair amount of the final price for me was I opted for a few years worth of extended warranty/service/maintenance packages. I was able to get the base price of the bike down a good deal but they more than made up for it in my addons cause I am a [strike]sucker[/strike] person who likes to take precautions with their motor vehicles.
Personally, I am not too upset with the end price as it was very possible to end up with a final cost significantly higher than what I did end up with.
Not needed. The C50 series still uses a tank-mounted speedometer, so either it was an old M50 that might have used that style or a C50 and the owner was wrong about the model :P From your description I imagine what you have looks like this (also from the 2010 M50) on the tank:
(Mine is an 08.)
More to the point of my post: The S40 Suzuki is a single cylinder 652 CC basic bike, while not super fast, its great for crusing around town and has been absolutely maintence free since I bought it two and a half years ago. This thing has about the least amount of moving parts you can have on a vehicle of about any kind that isn't electric. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a reasonable cost bike.
2004 Yamaha V-star Silverado. It's only a 650, but you'd never know if you didn't hear it running. Probably not the best idea as a first road bike (I'd be very sad if I dented it), but it was a smokin' good deal and a lot of fun to ride. Waiting for the snow to clear so that I can run it somewhere other than in the garage.
I do all of the work on it myself, cursing Yamaha's engineers the whole time (who thought it was a good idea to bury the oil filter behind the pipes?). I've only had to replace one part so far, which was a $40 plastic cap that fell off the end of the throttle grip on the highway. I'd hate to see what they charge for complicated parts. The shop service manual is incredibly detailed; it's like an Ikea instruction booklet for your bike.
All of the reviews I've read say this thing is the bomb, anybody got any thoughts?
Today was a warm day. The snow is melting and there are puddles everywhere. I hope to be able to ride in a week or two. I just finished replacing the sprockets and chain on the bike and am now waiting for some exhaust gaskets so I can put the pipes back on it. I am very excited to ride this bike with a good chain. The old one was stretched to the point of slapping the swing arm and the chain guard. This will be a totally new experience. I hope I put the rivet link on properly.
Very excited for a new riding season.
Oh, a question for you all about cruise control for bikes. Does anyone have experience with getting an after market cruise control? I am looking at starting some distance rides (1000km) and it has come up.
They are street legal, but they are a good 50% more to buy than the Honda. I'd pick one up if I had the cash, but... I don't.
HURRY UP.
Or something to that effect.
I think I need to replace to spark plugs though. Soon after I take off, my engine will die when I come to stop even with the choke open completely. It goes away after a few minutes of riding, but it's really annoying (and potentially dangerous) to stall at a traffic light next to my garage.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Are you letting it warm up for a bit? Do you have fuel stabilizer in there? If it goes away after a minutes it doesn't sound like it would be spark plugs...right?
Oh, and I hate all you who are riding already (or indeed, -still- riding). While it's been unseasonably warm up here so far, I still imagine it'll probably be another solid month before riding is possible. Last year my first ride of the season was early May. But it's probably for the best, my bike is still sitting in pieces in storage and I just got around to ordering a bunch of parts for it.
I've been riding on and off all winter in Vancouver. :P
Last Saturday I went up to the top of Mt Seymour and laughed at the people snowboarding in the 10c temperatures.
I'm living in Uganda right now and planning a big trip. We're goin to fly to Egypt, do all the touristy stuff, see the pyramids, cruise the Nile, cross over into Jordan and check out Petra, hike Mount Sinai, then get on a plane and fly into Morocco, rent a big R1100 and bomb around Morocco two up through the Atlas mountains. I'm just pumped, can't wait. 5 months!
PSN - sumowot
The ninja 250 runs notoriously lean, which makes for lousy idle when its cold out. Theres guides out there that show you how to shim the needles to make it run better all around. If you dont want to do that, just let it warm up for like 5 or 10 minutes before you start riding, or hold the throttle open to keep the revs up at a light if youre in a hurry and cant wait.
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Just don't gun it when it's REALLY cold. The oil needs to warm up a bit before it's fully effective.
If I remember correctly the Versys is a pretty solid all around bike, but the other two don't have windshields and don't perform quite as well. I think they're "commuter" bikes and are pretty beginner friendly, but fall into a price range where you could get more bike for the same or less if you buy used.
I'll see if I can find my motorcyclist edition that has a comparison of those, I'm pretty sure it has all 3 and maybe one more bikes compared.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/122_0908_kawasaki_er_6n_vs_suzuki_gladius/index.html
pretty much says buy an SV650
I'm looking for a standard naked sporty commuter bike to replace my 'starter' Yamaha Radian. SV650N is on the list, along with the Street Triple and Monster 696.
I'll give it a read, thanks.
A friend has a 696, and I've never heard a single bad thing about it, aside from the price.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO4niuCUPPI&feature=player_embedded
I plan to start using for the commute to work in April.
I'd be riding right now, but its time for the consumption of beer!